Expert: Rod Powers - 8/1/2006

Question
I read your article on the special forces and the descriptions of each one. I saw that each one is specially trained to be good at one specific thing.

I have always wanted to join the marines and recently thought about doing force recon. I want to be trained mostly along the lines of hand to hand combat, close quarters battle, guerilla warfare. But according to your article if I want that, the army would be best. So here comes the question.

After initial training you get training to specialize in something, so could I specialize in somthing like those things? Or does it have to be something along the lines of reconnaissance, (which I have to admitted seems to make more sense)

Answer
Hi Randy,

In basic training (which all military personnel go through, regardless of job), the Marines probably have the best program for hand-to-hand combat and close quarters battle.

Every single Marine, regarless of job, receives this training in Marine Corps Basic Training.  Those who require more extensive training in this area (such as Recon) receive additional training, as part of their job training program.

Of all the services, Army Special Forces (Green Beret) are probably the "experts" when it comes to guerilla warfare.  That's what Special Forces (Green Beret) in the Army specializes in.  In fact, they are the primary instructors, which teach these techniques to other military forces.  

Now, the primary mission of *most* Marine Corps Force Recon Companies is to insert a small group of highly trained specialists into a combat area, have them make their way to a target zone, and gather intelligence.  Then (if everything goes right), they report on the intel gathered, and get out without anyone ever knowing they were there in the first place.  If they are discovered, they try to eliminate those who discovered them without leaving any traces behind (that's the "guerilla warfare" part).

However, very recently (in the last year or so), the Marines have decided to join the official "Special Operations" community (ie, provide forces to the Special Operations Command).  No telling how this is going to "shake out" yet (it's still a pretty new concept for the Marines), but all of the members of the operations squads of the newly-formed Marine Corps Special Operations units are Force Recon.

My best guess?  After this all shakes out, the Marine Corps Spec Ops commands are going to operate very much like Navy SEALS.  For details, see the article at:  http://usmilitary.about.com/b/a/257491.htm

Hope this helps!

Rod Powers
http://usmilitary.about.com